Update from Representative Kevin Volk
I can't believe we are almost to April! That means the legislative session is still going on, and the campaign is ramping up to 100%. Lots going on:
Campaign Side:
UPDATE: While there is a contested Republican primary in the State Senate, there is no primary for the State House. That means that the general election starts now.
In both the State Senate and the State House, we have candidates we expect to be extremely well-funded by local megadonors like Jim Click, as well as the Republican Party itself - the Republican fund focused on House races only came into this year with $2.1 million cash-on-hand(!) and has already started attacking me.
https://x.com/SteveMontenegro/status/2011514107565130197
The campaign has begun. This will be an all-out effort. We are looking to go from flipping 1 seat in 2024 to now winning 3 seats (keep 1, flip 2 more). Yes, the national environment looks better, but Trump is going after elections processes - all of it together means we need to work even harder than in 2024.
We can do it! But only with your help:
1. Donate to our campaigns! If you are able to, please donate today. If we can lock in contributions from our strongest supporters like you early in the process, that allows us to spend more time recruiting new people to contribute. Grassroots donations are the only way we will be able to match the Republican's corporate donors.
2. Sign up to volunteer! In a Republican-leaning district, we need to not only match their fundraising, but we need to out-work them by talking to more voters about our great candidates who are focused on affordability, in contrast to Republicans who will be lockstep with Trump's overly aggressive policies, including new foreign conflicts.
https://www.mobilize.us/ld17democrats/event/789523/
The general campaign starts now. Let's do this!
Official Role
I am working to do a better job updating on social media so that people know what we are doing, and what I am focused on, in the state legislature. See this link for a week recap. Basically, Democrats are trying to advance proposals to decrease the cost of living, Republicans are stopping us. Democrats are ready to negotiate the budget, Republicans are delaying.
https://www.facebook.com/reel/3049923205398226
Good news! My bill, HB2800, which I ran in John McLean's memory, to decrease the chances of such a tragedy ever happening again, has proceeded through the House Judiciary Committe (9-0), the House Floor (53-0), and Senate ATT Committe (9-1).
If you would like to help, two things would be helpful - requesting that Senate Leadership allow the bill to be heard on the Senate Floor, and thanking those members of the ATT Committee who voted Yes on the bill to move it forward.
1. Email the members of the Senate Leadership (Republicans) to ask them to allow the bill to be heard on the Floor. A short, personalized email is best. As long as it has these elements, it's great!
(request to put HB2800 up for a vote on the Floor) + (why it's meaningful to you)
Members of Senate Majority Leadership:
2. Similarly, a short message thanking the members who have already voted Yes on the bill would be helpful. Vince Leach voted Yes, which I appreciated given that he was John's opponent for almost a year. Other Republicans included Farnsworth, Angius, Finchem, Werner. Alston, Epstein, Fernandez, and Kuby are Democrats.
(thank you message) + (why it's meaningful to you)
Members of Senate Appropriations, Transportation, and Technology Committee who voted Yes:
KEVIN VOLK
Arizona State Representative, District 17
Arizona House of Representatives
1700 West Washington Street, Phoenix, AZ 85007